Comments on: Microsoft to open retail stores next to Apple’s http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2009/07/16/microsoft-to-open-retail-stores-next-to-apple%e2%80%99s/ General interest observations and true web-log. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 04:40:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Rick Cain http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2009/07/16/microsoft-to-open-retail-stores-next-to-apple%e2%80%99s/comment-page-2/#comment-1554233 Rick Cain Sat, 18 Jul 2009 07:00:26 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=53290#comment-1554233 That will be about as effective as opening a Kentucky Fried Chicken right next to a Church's Chicken place. Neither really have what you want, and you pretty much will flip a coin when deciding where to go because be honest, you are lazy. That will be about as effective as opening a Kentucky Fried Chicken right next to a Church’s Chicken place.
Neither really have what you want, and you pretty much will flip a coin when deciding where to go because be honest, you are lazy.

]]> By: Shenzhov http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2009/07/16/microsoft-to-open-retail-stores-next-to-apple%e2%80%99s/comment-page-2/#comment-1553856 Shenzhov Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:03:37 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=53290#comment-1553856 So if Apple has the Genius Bar, is Microsoft going to have the Fu-bar? So if Apple has the Genius Bar, is Microsoft going to have the Fu-bar?

]]> By: toddt http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2009/07/16/microsoft-to-open-retail-stores-next-to-apple%e2%80%99s/comment-page-2/#comment-1553807 toddt Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:15:08 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=53290#comment-1553807 Microsoft is crazy for doing this. Their brand is not nearly the powerhouse that Apple's is. It seems that Microsoft is not interested in innovation, or trying to predict where technology is going. Their business relies on their install-base. They sit back, and see what technologies take off. They then develop ( or re-brand )their own product for that new market, and rely on their name to sell the product. Apple: "We bring innovation and clean design to computing." Microsoft: "We can do that too." This has worked in their software business; especially with Exchange and Outlook. But I don't think it translates to consumer loyalty outside of the enterprise. I don't know of many people who buy something because of the Microsoft brand. In short: The stores are going the way of the Zune. Microsoft is crazy for doing this. Their brand is not nearly the powerhouse that Apple’s is.

It seems that Microsoft is not interested in innovation, or trying to predict where technology is going. Their business relies on their install-base. They sit back, and see what technologies take off. They then develop ( or re-brand )their own product for that new market, and rely on their name to sell the product.

Apple: “We bring innovation and clean design to computing.”

Microsoft: “We can do that too.”

This has worked in their software business; especially with Exchange and Outlook. But I don’t think it translates to consumer loyalty outside of the enterprise. I don’t know of many people who buy something because of the Microsoft brand.

In short: The stores are going the way of the Zune.

]]> By: OvenMaster http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2009/07/16/microsoft-to-open-retail-stores-next-to-apple%e2%80%99s/comment-page-2/#comment-1553794 OvenMaster Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:40:12 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=53290#comment-1553794 #5: "Can I use their bathroom for a memory leak?" Spit take of the day! :D #5: “Can I use their bathroom for a memory leak?”

Spit take of the day! :D

]]> By: lens42 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2009/07/16/microsoft-to-open-retail-stores-next-to-apple%e2%80%99s/comment-page-2/#comment-1553743 lens42 Fri, 17 Jul 2009 07:47:07 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=53290#comment-1553743 Seriously, what are they going to sell? Shrink wrapped software at "list" price? Zunes? Will they sell PCs and laptops? - I don't see how that could work. Who's PCs would they carry? Will there be "Geniuses" behind a counter to tell you to reinstall Windows when you describe your problem? In-store support works for Apple because they own the whole problem. I don't see how Microsoft can make this fly. Seriously, what are they going to sell? Shrink wrapped software at “list” price? Zunes? Will they sell PCs and laptops? – I don’t see how that could work. Who’s PCs would they carry? Will there be “Geniuses” behind a counter to tell you to reinstall Windows when you describe your problem? In-store support works for Apple because they own the whole problem. I don’t see how Microsoft can make this fly.

]]> By: dbmuse http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2009/07/16/microsoft-to-open-retail-stores-next-to-apple%e2%80%99s/comment-page-2/#comment-1553722 dbmuse Fri, 17 Jul 2009 04:56:59 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=53290#comment-1553722 I hear McAfee will be openning a booth outside Microsoft stores to sell virus protection to those who enter or leave the Microsoft store. Apple stores should include hand wipes for those coming into their stores after leaving Microsoft's store. Nothing like bringing down realestate prices in the Apple neighborhood. I hear McAfee will be openning a booth outside Microsoft stores to sell virus protection to those who enter or leave the Microsoft store. Apple stores should include hand wipes for those coming into their stores after leaving Microsoft’s store.
Nothing like bringing down realestate prices in the Apple neighborhood.

]]> By: Postman http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2009/07/16/microsoft-to-open-retail-stores-next-to-apple%e2%80%99s/comment-page-2/#comment-1553557 Postman Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:36:28 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=53290#comment-1553557 Maybe Steve Jobs will have some lower level functionaries call up Balmer and ask him not to open the store. Maybe Steve Jobs will have some lower level functionaries call up Balmer and ask him not to open the store.

]]> By: qb http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2009/07/16/microsoft-to-open-retail-stores-next-to-apple%e2%80%99s/comment-page-2/#comment-1553539 qb Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:10:37 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=53290#comment-1553539 #20 I'm not baiting here, I'm really blanking on what products you're talking about. Just some ad budget numbers I know about from trade presses for 2008: - MS Consumer Products: $400 million - MS Vista: $300 million - MS Gaming and Entertainment: $945 million - Apple's Entire Ad Budget: $468 million Note: total numbers for ad budgets in MS 10K do not include Vista, Mobile, and only a small portion of enterprise marketing even though they say it's in there (buried under partner and events). There may be some overlap between gaming and consumer products in the above numbers (e.g. Zune). For consumer products, which one's don't get the shelf space and support? #20 I’m not baiting here, I’m really blanking on what products you’re talking about. Just some ad budget numbers I know about from trade presses for 2008:

- MS Consumer Products: $400 million
- MS Vista: $300 million
- MS Gaming and Entertainment: $945 million
- Apple’s Entire Ad Budget: $468 million

Note: total numbers for ad budgets in MS 10K do not include Vista, Mobile, and only a small portion of enterprise marketing even though they say it’s in there (buried under partner and events). There may be some overlap between gaming and consumer products in the above numbers (e.g. Zune).

For consumer products, which one’s don’t get the shelf space and support?

]]> By: deowll http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2009/07/16/microsoft-to-open-retail-stores-next-to-apple%e2%80%99s/comment-page-2/#comment-1553531 deowll Thu, 16 Jul 2009 18:56:31 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=53290#comment-1553531 It's a stupid idea but then look at the source. This guy hasn't made many smart business moves in a long time. It’s a stupid idea but then look at the source. This guy hasn’t made many smart business moves in a long time.

]]> By: mctea http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2009/07/16/microsoft-to-open-retail-stores-next-to-apple%e2%80%99s/comment-page-2/#comment-1553519 mctea Thu, 16 Jul 2009 18:33:37 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=53290#comment-1553519 lol! lol!

]]> By: MikeN http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2009/07/16/microsoft-to-open-retail-stores-next-to-apple%e2%80%99s/comment-page-1/#comment-1553504 MikeN Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:49:40 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=53290#comment-1553504 QB I'm sure they spend more on advertising, Excel, Office, Windows, Windows server, etc. However, many of their products don't get advertised, and are just sitting on a bottom shelf in a store. QB I’m sure they spend more on advertising, Excel, Office, Windows, Windows server, etc. However, many of their products don’t get advertised, and are just sitting on a bottom shelf in a store.

]]> By: furrypotato http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2009/07/16/microsoft-to-open-retail-stores-next-to-apple%e2%80%99s/comment-page-1/#comment-1553496 furrypotato Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:34:32 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=53290#comment-1553496 Who the hell would want to visit an MS store ?? I don't own a single Apple product, but given the choice between the two stores.... Analysts have predicted 40 million copies of windows 7 shipped by the end of 2009 (More than the entire user base of OS X), so why do MS need to bother with this kind of money wasting ? Just spend the money on TV advertising pointing out that mac's run on an ugly 40 year old OS with some Apple lipstick applied and is going down a dead-end. Who the hell would want to visit an MS store ??

I don’t own a single Apple product, but given the choice between the two stores….

Analysts have predicted 40 million copies of windows 7 shipped by the end of 2009 (More than the entire user base of OS X), so why do MS need to bother with this kind of money wasting ?
Just spend the money on TV advertising pointing out that mac’s run on an ugly 40 year old OS with some Apple lipstick applied and is going down a dead-end.

]]> By: orangetiki http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2009/07/16/microsoft-to-open-retail-stores-next-to-apple%e2%80%99s/comment-page-1/#comment-1553485 orangetiki Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:10:45 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=53290#comment-1553485 #13, #17, This reminds me of <a href="http://is.gd/1Bbti" rel="nofollow"><u>an ad I saw once</u></a> (It's an apple ad entitled bean counter) #13, #17, This reminds me of an ad I saw once

(It’s an apple ad entitled bean counter)

]]> By: qb http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2009/07/16/microsoft-to-open-retail-stores-next-to-apple%e2%80%99s/comment-page-1/#comment-1553478 qb Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:37:58 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=53290#comment-1553478 #13 MikeN said "Microsoft has an impressive array of products that are weakly promoted." On advertising, partner relationships, and events (about 3500/year) Microsoft easily spends more (like twice as much) than they do on R&D. We're talking billions here. The Microsoft model has always been to sell through partners - in fact over 90% of their income comes through partners. They finally have to change their model, that's what is going on here. #13 MikeN said “Microsoft has an impressive array of products that are weakly promoted.”

On advertising, partner relationships, and events (about 3500/year) Microsoft easily spends more (like twice as much) than they do on R&D. We’re talking billions here. The Microsoft model has always been to sell through partners – in fact over 90% of their income comes through partners.

They finally have to change their model, that’s what is going on here.

]]> By: keaneo http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2009/07/16/microsoft-to-open-retail-stores-next-to-apple%e2%80%99s/comment-page-1/#comment-1553477 keaneo Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:35:38 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=53290#comment-1553477 Is that really a Microsoft kiosk - or a solo pissoir? Is that really a Microsoft kiosk – or a solo pissoir?

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